12.6.7

Indefinite Pronouns & Using 'y', 'en'

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Indefinite Pronouns

These pronouns refer to general and unspecific things.

Key vocab

Key vocab

  • Quelqu'un - someone.
  • Tout le monde - everyone.
  • Quelque chose - something.
  • Plusieurs - several.
  • Tout - all, everything.
  • Chacun(e) - each one.
Example sentences with indefinite pronouns

Example sentences with indefinite pronouns

  • Tout le monde aime le chocolat.
    • Everone likes chocolate.
  • Il y a quelque chose pour tout le monde
    • There is something for everyone.
  • Plusieurs personnes sont forcées de quitter leur maison.
    • Several people are being forced to leave their homes.

Using 'Y' and 'En'

Uses of 'y'

Uses of 'y'

  • 'Y' can be used to mean there.
  • 'Y' is used to talk about a location that has already been mentioned.
    • Je travaille à l'université → J'y travaille.
      • I work for the university → I work there.
  • 'Y' can also mean 'it' or 'them' with verbs that are followed by 'à'.
    • Je pense aux vacances → J'y pense.
      • I'm thinking about the holidays → I'm thinking about it.
More uses of 'y'

More uses of 'y'

  • 'Y' is also used in some common expressions.
    • Il y a...
      • There is...
    • Vas-y.
      • Do it!, go on!
    • Allons-y, on y va.
      • Let's go.
En - of it, of them, some, any

En - of it, of them, some, any

  • 'En' has a variety of meanings depending on the context.
  • 'En' replaces words about quantity and any words with 'de'.
    • J'ai besoin de pain → J'en ai besoin.
      • I need bread → I need it.
    • J'ai mangé du gâteau → J'en ai mangé.
      • I ate some cake → I ate some.
Jump to other topics
1

The Changing Nature of Family

1.1

Soucis et problèmes de famille

1.1.1Problèmes de famille - Vocab French to English1.1.2Problèmes de famille - Vocab English to French1.1.3Problèmes de famille - Comprehension1.1.4Problèmes de famille - Comprehension 21.1.5Problèmes de famille - Translations1.1.6Grammar - Tenses
1.2

Monoparentalité, homoparentalité etc

1.2.1Mono- et homoparentalité - Vocab French to English1.2.2Mono- et homoparentalité - Vocab English to French1.2.3Mono- et homoparentalité - Comprehension1.2.4Mono- et homoparentalité - Comprehension 21.2.5Grammar - Perfect tense
1.3

La vie de couple - nouvelles tendances

1.3.1La vie de couple - Vocab French to English1.3.2La vie de couple - Vocab English to French1.3.3La vie de couple - Comprehension1.3.4La vie de couple - Comprehension 21.3.5La vie de couple - Translations
2

The 'cyber-society'

2.1

Qui sont les cybernautes ?

2.1.1Cybernautes - Vocab French to English2.1.2Cybernautes - Vocab English to French2.1.3Cybernautes - Comprehension2.1.4Cybernautes - Comprehension 22.1.5Cybernautes - Translations
2.2

Comment la technologie facilite la vie quotidienne

2.2.1La technologie - Vocab French to English2.2.2La technologie - Vocab English to French2.2.3La technologie - Comprehension2.2.4La technologie - Comprehension 22.2.5La technologie - Translations
2.3

Dangers de la cyber-société

2.3.1La cyber-société - Vocab French to English2.3.2La cyber-société - Vocab E to F2.3.3La cyber-société - Comprehension2.3.4La cyber-société - Comprehension 22.3.5La cyber-société - Translations
3

The Place of Voluntary Work

3.1

Qui sont et que font les bénévoles ?

3.1.1Les bénévoles - Vocab French to English3.1.2Les bénévoles - Vocab English to French3.1.3Les bénévoles - Comprehension3.1.4Les bénévoles - Comprehension 23.1.5Les bénévoles - Translations
3.2

La valeur du bénévolat

3.2.1La valeur du bénévolat - Vocab French to English3.2.2La valeur du bénévolat - Vocab English to French3.2.3La valeur du bénévolat - Comprehension3.2.4La valeur du bénévolat - Comprehension 23.2.5La valeur du bénévolat - Translations
3.3

Le futur de l’engagement politique

3.3.1Le futur de l’engagement - Vocab French to English3.3.2Le futur de l’engagement - Vocab English to French3.3.3Le futur de l’engagement - Comprehension3.3.4Le futur de l’engagement - Comprehension 23.3.5Le futur de l’engagement - Translations
4

Diverse Society

4.1

L'enrichissement dû à la mixité

4.1.1Enrichissement - Vocab French to English4.1.2Enrichissement - Vocab English to French4.1.3Enrichissement - Comprehension4.1.4Enrichissement - Grammar4.1.5Enrichissement - Translations
4.2

Tolérance et respect

4.2.1Tolérance - Vocab French to English4.2.2Tolérance - Vocab English to French4.2.3Tolérance - Compréhension4.2.4Tolérance - Grammar4.2.5Tolérance - Translation
4.3

Un apprentissage pour la vie

4.3.1Apprentissage - Vocab French to English4.3.2Apprentissage - Vocab English to French4.3.3Apprentissage - Comprehension4.3.4Apprentissage - Grammar4.3.5Apprentissage - Translation
5

The Marginalised

5.1

Qui ils sont

5.1.1Qui ils sont - Vocab French to English5.1.2Qui ils sont - Vocab English to French5.1.3Qui ils sont - Comprehension5.1.4Qui ils sont - Grammar5.1.5Qui ils sont - Translations
5.2

Comment aider

5.2.1Comment aider - Vocab French to English5.2.2Comment aider - Vocab English to French5.2.3Comment aider - Comprehension5.2.4Comment aider - Grammar5.2.5Comment aider - Translations
5.3

Quelle attitute envers eux

5.3.1Quelle attitude -Vocab French to English5.3.2Quelle attitude -Vocab English to French5.3.3Quelle attitude - Comprehension5.3.4Quelle attitude - Grammar5.3.5Quelle attitude - Translations
6

How Criminals Are Treated

6.1

Quelles attitudes envers la criminalité ?

6.1.1La criminalité - Vocab French to English6.1.2La criminalité - Vocab English to French6.1.3La criminalité - Comprehension6.1.4La criminalité - Comprehension 26.1.5La criminalité - Translations
6.2

La prison – échec ou succès ?

6.2.1Aller en prison - Vocab French to English6.2.2Aller en prison - Vocab English to French6.2.3Aller en prison - Comprehension6.2.4Aller en prison - Comprehension 26.2.5Aller en prison - Translations
6.3

D’autres sanctions

6.3.1Gérer les criminels - Vocab French to English6.3.2Gérer les criminels - Vocab English to French6.3.3Gérer les criminels - Comprehension6.3.4Gérer les criminels - Comprehension 26.3.5Gérer les criminels - Translations
7

A Culture Proud of its Heritage

7.1

Le patrimoine - national, régional et local

7.1.1Le patrimoine - Vocab French to English7.1.2Le patrimoine - Vocab English to French7.1.3Le patrimoine - Comprehension7.1.4Le patrimoine - Comprehension 27.1.5Le patrimoine - Translations7.1.6Grammar - Adjectives
7.2

Comment le patrimoine reflète la culture

7.2.1Reflet de la culture - Vocab French to English7.2.2Reflet de la culture - Vocab English to French7.2.3Reflet de la culture - Comprehension7.2.4Reflet de la culture - Comprehension 27.2.5Reflet de la culture - Translations7.2.6Grammar - Subjunctive
7.3

Le patrimoine et le tourisme

7.3.1Tourisme - Vocab French to English7.3.2Tourisme - Vocab English to French7.3.3Tourisme - Comprehension7.3.4Tourisme - Comprehension 27.3.5Tourisme - Translations7.3.6Grammar - If clauses
7.4

Contemporary French music

7.4.1La musique - Vocab French to English7.4.2La musique - Vocab English to French7.4.3La musique - Comprehension7.4.4La musique - Grammar7.4.5La musique - Translations
8

Cinema: the 7th Art Form

8.1

Pourquoi le septième art?

8.1.1Pourquoi le 7e art - Vocab French to English8.1.2Pourquoi le 7e art - Vocab English to French8.1.3Pourquoi le 7e art - Comprehension8.1.4Pourquoi le 7e art - Comprehension 28.1.5Pourquoi le 7e art - Translations8.1.6Grammar - Infinitive clauses
8.2

Le cinéma - une passion nationale ?

8.2.1Une passion nationale - Vocab French to English8.2.2Une passion nationale - Vocab English to French8.2.3Une passion nationale - Comprehension8.2.4Une passion nationale - Comprehension 28.2.5Une passion nationale - Translations8.2.6Grammar - Conditional Perfect
8.3

Evolution du cinéma - les grandes lignes

8.3.1Evolution du cinéma - Vocab French to English8.3.2Evolution du cinéma - Vocab English to French8.3.3Evolution du cinéma - Comprehension8.3.4Evolution du cinéma - Comprehension 28.3.5Evolution du cinéma - Translations8.3.6Grammar - Pluperfect
9

Demonstrations, strikes – who holds the power?

9.1

Le pouvoir des syndicats

9.1.1Le pouvoir des syndicats - Vocab French to English9.1.2Le pouvoir des syndicats - Vocab English to French9.1.3Le pouvoir des syndicats - Comprehension9.1.4Le pouvoir des syndicats - Translations9.1.5Grammar - Pronouns
9.2

Manifestations et grèves – sont-elles efficaces ?

9.2.1Manifestations et grèves - Vocab French to English9.2.2Manifestations et grèves - Vocab English to French9.2.3Manifestations et grèves - Comprehension9.2.4Manifestations et grèves - Translations9.2.5Grammar - Relative pronouns
9.3

Attitudes différentes envers les tensions

9.3.1Attitudes différentes - Vocab French to English9.3.2Attitudes différentes - Vocab English to French9.3.3Attitudes différentes - Comprehension9.3.4Attitudes différentes - Translations9.3.5Grammar - Demonstratives
10

Politics & Immigration

10.1

Politiques d'intégration et immigration

10.1.1Politiques - Vocab French to English10.1.2Politiques - Vocab English to French10.1.3Politiques - Comprehension10.1.4Politiques - Comprehension 210.1.5Politiques - Translations
10.2

L'immigration et les partis politiques

10.2.1L'immigration - Vocab French to English10.2.2L'immigration - Vocab English to French10.2.3L'immigration - Comprehension10.2.4L'immigration - Comprehension 210.2.5L'immigration - Translations
10.3

L'engagement politique des immigrés

10.3.1L'engagement politique des immigrés - Vocab F to E10.3.2L'engagement politique des immigrés - Vocab E to F10.3.3L'engagement politique des immigrés - Comprehensio10.3.4L'engagement politique des immigrés - Comprehensio10.3.5L'engagement politique des immigrés - Translations
11

Conjugation & Use of Tenses

11.1

Present Tense

11.1.1Irregular IR Verbs That End in 'vrir'11.1.2Irregular RE Verbs11.1.3RE Present Participle11.1.4Irregular IR Verbs With No Pattern11.1.5Irregular IR Verbs That End in 'enir'11.1.6Regular IR Verbs11.1.7Reflexive Verbs11.1.8ER Present Participles11.1.95 Common IR Verbs11.1.10Stem-Changing Verbs11.1.11Irregular Present Participles11.1.12Irregular IR Verbs Like 'Partir'11.1.13Regular RE Verbs11.1.14Irregular ER Verbs - Aller11.1.15Modal Irregular IR Verbs11.1.165 Common RE Verbs11.1.17Irregular RE Verbs With No Pattern11.1.18Avoir11.1.19Être11.1.20Regular ER Verbs11.1.21IR Present Participle11.1.225 Common ER Verbs
11.2

Perfect Tense

11.2.1Perfect Infinitive
11.3

Imperfect Tense

11.3.1Imperfect vs Perfect Tense
11.4

Future Tense

11.4.1Future Tense - Regular ER Verbs11.4.2Future Tense - 5 Common ER Verbs11.4.3Future Tense - Regular IR Verbs11.4.4Future Tense - 5 Common IR Verbs11.4.5Future Tense - Regular RE Verbs11.4.6Future Tense - 5 Common RE Verbs11.4.7Immediate Future11.4.8Future Tense - Irregulars
11.5

Conditional Tense

11.5.1Conditional - Regular ER Verbs11.5.2Conditional - Regular IR Verbs11.5.3Conditional - Regular RE Verbs11.5.4Conditional - Irregulars
11.6

Future Perfect Tense

11.6.1Future Perfect11.6.2Future Perfect - Irregular Verbs11.6.3Future Perfect - Interrompre & Préférer11.6.4Future Perfect - Être, Aller & Avoir11.6.5Future Perfect - Faire, Pouvoir & Devoir
11.7

Conditional Perfect Tense

11.7.1Conditional Perfect11.7.2Conditional Perfect - Irregular Verbs11.7.3Conditional Perfect - Interrompre & Préférer11.7.4Conditional Perfect - Être, Aller & Avoir11.7.5Conditional Perfect - Faire, Pouvoir & Devoir
11.8

Pluperfect Tense

11.8.1The Pluperfect Tense with 'Avoir'11.8.2Pluperfect - Regular ER Verbs with 'Être'11.8.3Pluperfect - Regular IR & RE Verbs with 'Être'11.8.4Pluperfect - Irregular Verbs with 'Être'
12

Extra Grammar

12.1

Nouns

12.1.1The, A, Some, Any12.1.2Masculine Nouns12.1.3Feminine Nouns12.1.4Plural Nouns
12.2

Adjectives

12.2.1Agreement of Adjectives12.2.2Position of Adjectives: After the Noun12.2.3Position of Adjectives: Before the Noun12.2.4Position of Adjectives: Changing Meaning12.2.5Comparative & Superlative Adjectives12.2.6Demonstrative Adjectives12.2.7Indefinite Adjectives
12.3

Numerals

12.3.1What Time Is It?12.3.2Time of Year
12.4

Adverbs

12.4.1Formation of Adverbs
12.5

Quantifiers & Intensifiers

12.5.1Important Quantifiers & Intensifiers
12.6

Pronouns

12.6.1Personal & Object Pronouns12.6.2Emphatic Pronouns12.6.3Reflexive Pronouns12.6.4Relative Pronouns12.6.5Demonstrative Pronouns12.6.6Possessive Pronouns12.6.7Indefinite Pronouns & Using 'y', 'en'
12.7

Passive Voice

12.7.1Passive Voice: Present & Perfect12.7.2Passive Voice: Future & Imperfect12.7.3Avoiding Using the Passive Voice
12.8

Prepositions

12.8.1Prepositions12.8.2Prepositions 212.8.3Prepositions 312.8.4Prepositional Phrases
12.9

Conjunctions

12.9.1Coordinating Conjunctions
12.10

Negation

12.10.1Negative Participles
12.11

Questions

12.11.1Asking Questions

Practice questions on Indefinite Pronouns & Using 'y', 'en'

Can you answer these? Test yourself with free interactive practice on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.

  1. 1
    How do you say 'everything' in French?Multiple choice
  2. 2
    Which of these is NOT an indefinite pronoun?Multiple choice
  3. 3
    How do you say 'I need it' in French?Multiple choice
  4. 4
    Select the sentences with the right pronoun:True / false
  5. 5
    Which one of these is NOT the correct use of 'en'?Multiple choice
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Possessive Pronouns

Passive Voice: Present & Perfect